Use the active voice, the present tense, and strong verbs wherever you can.
Use the active voice wherever possible. Using the active voice helps maintain the preferred subject-verb-object sentence order. You also avoid introducing an auxiliary verb required by passive verb forms.
Example
The form was completed by the applicant.
(passive voice)
The applicant completed the form.
(active voice)
Try to use the present tense. The present tense is more direct as it does not qualify the verb with an auxiliary verb.
Example
The applicant will complete the form.
(future tense)
The applicant completes the form.
(present tense)
Use direct, active verbs. Avoid combining weak, vague verbs such as "be" and "do" with the noun form of a verb.
Example
Our research could be of help to you in making a decision.
(weak)
Our research could help you make a decision.
(strong)
We did a calculation of the total.
(weak)
We calculated the total.
(strong)
